Commercial-paper instrument



4. 2 4 6 5 1 M m D 1D 1 T M L Dec. 8, 1925' COMMERCIAL PAPER INSTRUMENT Filed June 14, 1922 Q E28 P28 mu 0 whzmu mhzuu M22 uz u u mhzuu mhzuu M22 M22 u Y INVENTOR. L/BA/vua M. T000 CHARLEG G. '{T/EFEL cl IQHHHMHIUOI viii 4 vivid! Hi8 ATTORNEY I Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PA'TE NT OFFICE.

names 1:. Tom) AND CHARLES e. TIEFEL, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOBS TO THE TODD comranv, me, or nocnns'rnn, NEW YORK.

COMMERCIAL-PAPER INSTRUMENT.

Application filed June 14, 1922. Serial No. 568,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, L BANUs M. Tonnand CHARLES G. TIEFEL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,'

paper instruments, suchas checks, drafts,

bonds, and the like, and more particularly to the protective marking of such instru-- ments with-suitable legends, as, for example,

a monetary value, to prevent alteration thereof. One object of the invention is to provide an effective method of marking a legend on the paper affording a high degree of legibility and at the same time of protection against alteration, without requiring maceration or roughening of' the paper. Another object is to'provide an instrument of the above character having its monetary value expressed in figures and conspicuousl printed thereon with characteristically di ferent fields or brackgrounds for the different figures, rendering alteration of the latter exceedingly difiicult. p v

To these and other ends the invention consists. in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter vention.

more fully described, the novel features -be- 'ing pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a bank check. protectively marked in accordance with the present in- Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing portions of the check and its legend in detail. v

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The present invention is applicable to the protective marking of paper instruments generally with an desired legend, the present embodiment ilustrating the use of the invention for marking a monetary value on a bank check. The use of figures to express a monetary value or other amount has the advantage of providing an inscription which may be quickly read with little chance of error, the compactness of the figures permitting them to be employed in relatively large sizes and marked with conspicuously prises "other characters of "preventing .tion by, adding 7 printed on the heavy lines. The printing of an amount in figures also may be accomplished, generally speaking, by a comparatively simple and convenient form of printing a paratus, as well understood in the art; Kccordingly, for the'purpose of securing the above and other advantages, the present invention comexpressing the value or amount in figures," as shown in Fig. 1, and the figures are preferably lin ited or terminated by or; words for the purpose the changing ofthe inscrip-. or inserting other figures.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, Fig. 1 shows a check having its monetary value expressed in figures printed thereon in a comparatively large size so that "they may be quickly and accurately read. The figures arealso preferably type in conspicuously thick and preferably solid lines, 'as. shown.- This type offigures is not only easily read, but is diflicult to alter because of the considerable amount of ink deposited upon the paper. Each figure of the amount printed as above is addi-.

tionally protected by providing'therefor a or background of relatively small characters printed in closely repeated order with comparatively fine type. Such a field, as shown, forms in' contrast with the heavier type, a background having the general ap paper with'relatively heavy pearance of a field of a relatively light degree of color or tint which does not detract from the strikinglegibility of the figures. Preferably the field for each figure is formed by printing in the manner described a repetition of the group of letters spelling the corresponding figure word, so that the field is different for each difl'e'rent figure, and itself serves to'express the corresponding figure. While the field thus printed gives the appearance upon casual inspection of a tinted background, its-individual words are readily legible upon close inspection. This prevents the successful alteration of a figure without altering its entire field or Y I background,'which would obviously be ex-' ceedingly difiicult', so that attempts to alter any figure of the inscription results in evidence of such alteration which is easily discernible. It is contemplated that the figures might be marked on a background of the character described by removing portions of the latter to form the figure as a blank space,

. ground which ditional figures but it is preferred to print the figure in ink insubstantial lines as above described. The background for the different figures may have various shapes, a square form being selected in the present instance as efiective and pleasing in appearance, and the field is of sufficient size to extend for a substantial distance beyond the outlines of the figure in all directions. figures are preferably rinted in sufiicient proximity to prevent t e insertion of adbetween them, and the fields of adjacent figures extend, as shown, into relatively close relation with each other.

It. is preferred to further protect the amount, printed in dollars and cents, as illustrated, by providin limiting or. terminal symbols or words for preventing changes in the length of the inscription 'as .by prefixing or suffixing additional figures.

Thus, as .shown, the dollars and 'cents amounts are separated by acharacter such, for example,

as the word Dollars printed in heavy lines asdescribed in connection with the figures, and provided with a back may consist of a close repetition' of the'word Dollars printed in fine type. Similarly theicents amount is preferably terminated by a character such as the word Cents which may be printed on a characteristic background comprising a of additional figures,

' preferred to repetition of the same ment the beginning or left-hand end of-the fi res may be placed at the left-hand edge 0 the instrument to prevent the prefixing as well understood in the art, but in the present instance it is this purpose, such, for example, as the word Pay printed in relatively heavy lines on a background formed by repetitions of the Instead of theword .Pay, of course, characters might be employed,.such as a dollar sign initials, or other desired characters. i

The inventionthus provides a simple and 0d adapted for protec-.

or other legend on a paper instrumentso as to afford a high advantageous met tively marking a value The word in small type. In locating the inscription on the instru-- print a limiting character for various other.

degree of legibility, parativelysmall space and presentin an attractive appearance. The printing 0% the characters of the inscription in' heavy lines renders them difficult .to alter, which difiiculty characteristic back ound or field for each figure or other sym 1 described above, and with --the amount, thus printed, limited or stopped ofi'b the terminal words or symbols describe the'instrument is efiectively protected against the field of impression, but it has been found exceedingly diificult to alter the inscription when printed in suitably penetrating and permanent ink on the'paper without maceration ofthe; latter, and the latter method is preferred, as the. check is then leftin a smooth, flat condition. I w

What is claimed is: Y c

1. A commercial paper instrument printed with a number expressed in figures and with a background for each figure comprising repetitions of the group of letters spelling the corresponding figure word. 2. A commercial paper instrument having its monetary value protectively marked thereon in relatively large figures printed in ink on a background comprising a repetition of the group of sponding figure word printed in close order and relativelysmall size,

'3. A commercial paper instrument having while occupying com- I is enhanced by the provision of the alteration. This protec-- tion may be further increased, if so desired, by macerating or breaking the paper over letters spelling the "correprinted in relatively small size and closely repeated arrangement. v In testimony whereof we afiix our sigma 'tures.

LIBANUS MQTODD. CHARLES G. TIEFEL. 

